phenolic tests

Question

Ferric chloride test gives violet coloration with:

RankGuru · Accepted Answer

1. **The Reagent**: Neutral Ferrichloride solution ($FeCl_3$).
2. **Target**: **Phenols** or enols.
3. **Observation**: When a drop of neutral $FeCl_3$ is added to phenol, a characteristic **violet, blue, or green coloration** appears.
4. **Chemistry**: This is due to the formation of a coordination complex where the phenolic Oxygen coordinates to the $Fe^{3+}$ ion.
5. **Specificity**: Aliphatic alcohols ($e.g.,$ Ethanol) do not form such stabilized complexes and therefore show no such color change, making this a classic test to distinguish phenols from alcohols.

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phenolic tests

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